Feb 17, 2024 update.

Originally posted to social media Feb 17, 2024.

3 month anniversary of the Whipple Surgery. Still struggling with the fistula / liver bile duct leak. Floroscopy early this week helped verify the leak location. Plan has been to try and cut down digestive fluids with medication and TPN IV feeding. Fluids have slowed down, but the Doctors don't think the fistula will heal on its own. This coming week they will send me for another attempt at getting a drain / stent put in place to re- direct the fluid to where it should be going. 3rd time is the charm, and hopefully in 5 days from now it can be done🤞

I have had some really good days, even got my haircut, but very hungry being off food for 11 days as of now. 😩Down too 119lbs ugh.

Still feel fortunate to have such a great team of Nurses, staff and techs taking care of me❤️

Leak detected here.

Feb 12, 2024.

Comments

The number of polyps / adenomas increase after Whipple Surgery, and start of taking a Proton Pump Inhibitor(PPI) why?

UPDATED Jan 8 2026 The number of polyps / adenoma, in my remaining colon, rectum and stomach, has increased since after my Whipple Surgery , and I started taking a Proton Pump Inhibitor. The Whipple re-configures the digestive tract, and creates a new connection between the stomach and the small intestine (jejunum). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed to patients after a Whipple to prevent ulcers and bleeding in the upper digestive tract . Do Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) cause an increase the numbers of polyps with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis , FAP ? There is a study, Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science, that seems to suggest that using a Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for over 12 months is a significant risk factor for developing advanced colon polyps. As of June 17, 2025 there are now several small Fundic Gland Polyps in my stomach, this is the 1st time I can remember or seen any word of these, and not sure if this because ...

2 year Whipple Aniversery and Update.

It's hard to believe but 2 years has passed since my Whipple ( Nov 17, 2023). I am loving my new post Whipple life, and wasn't sure I would be able to say that. The first 5 months after the Whipple were really rough , I was in hospital for all of it other than the 21 days at a friends place struggling with drains, leaks/fistula and pain. Around the 6 month anniversary things started to improve, the fistula/leaks had healed, and the feeding tube was removed. Life was slowly starting to return to the new normal. I turned 62 in August and can't believe the things I have been able to do this past year. I returned to part time work as mountain bike guide and coach with Alberta66 MTB . Spent more time on the bike with friends ( biked 3200 km with 64000m of elevation gain), got to see most of my Happy Places . I Volunteered with Friends of Kananaskis and West Bragg Trails , helping with trail maintenance and as a trail host ( to date over 300 hrs this year). The tra...

Ferritin and Iron levels.

UPDATED Dec 12, 2025 Happy to report that what I have done over the past 12 months has helped my Ferritin and Iron levels stay stable and a slight increase. Part of the on going follow up after my Whipple Surgery is having blood work done at 3 and 6 month intervals. Blood work done in Nov 2024, a year post Whipple, showed my iron levels to be in the normal range, but the Ferritin levels had started to drop. Both my primary Doctor and dietitian recommend me increasing my daily iron intake to see if that would help raise my Ferritin level . The duodenum is removed during the Whipple, and it plays a crucial role in iron absorption , so removing of this section of the small bowel reduces the body's ability to absorb iron. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body's cells and It's found in many cells, especially in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow . A low ferritin level after the Whipple is common and is often due to impaired iron absorption caused by the remova...

The FAP - Whipple Report

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